Duke Energy decides to retire Crystal River nuclear facilityDuke Energy will permanently close its Crystal River nuclear plant in Florida, the company announced today. The facility has been temporarily shut down since 2009. "This has been an arduous process of modeling, engineering, analysis and evaluation over many months. The decision was very difficult, but it is the right choice," said Jim Rogers, chairman, president and CEO of Duke Energy. Tampa Bay Times (St. Petersburg, Fla.)
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Energy Dept. official touts small-reactor projectsAssistant Energy Secretary Pete Lyons touted the prospects of small modular reactors, saying such projects could help generate jobs for Americans. "One of the features of these small reactors is that they can be entirely manufactured here in the United States," Lyons said. "They can literally be made in the USA. With the large plants, that's simply physically impossible," he added. National Public Radio
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Japan nuclear incident was avoidable, expert saysThe Fukushima Daiichi incident in Japan was avoidable, said Jack DeVine, a nuclear professional for 46 years. The facility's sea barrier lacked the height to handle a major tsunami, and the plant's lower portions housed most of the electrical distribution and safety equipment, said DeVine, who was a nuclear submarine officer for five years. This shows that nuclear-technology flaws didn't play a role in the incident, he added. Aiken Standard (S.C.)
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Utilities seek a part in climate-change policiesMembers of the energy industry that use coal among other sources are studying policies for fighting climate change as the Environmental Protection Agency begins its rule-making process. "We plan to work with various stakeholders -- including the president, Congress, environmental advocacy organizations and industry groups -- to address [climate change]," said Dominion spokesman Ryan Frazier. The Washington Post/Bloomberg
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Thinking Outside the BoxTo stay relevant, companies need to spend as much time generating ideas for the future as they do running their businesses today. Read Boomtown: Think Like a Startup

Policy Watch

Lawmakers plan bill on management of used nuclear fuelA bipartisan group of senators is working on a draft bill dealing with the long-term management of the country's used nuclear fuel. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, who is part of the group, said she was "encouraged that we've got a good, strong working group here that are willing to put some time and muscle into an issue that has been weighting us down for far too many years." The Wall Street Journal
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Support for Ohio uranium project is strong, lawmakers saySupport for USEC's American Centrifuge Plant in Ohio remains strong, despite some potential shifts in the federal government's energy policy, some lawmakers said. USEC has been seeking federal funding for the project and said its money to support the venture will run out by month's end. "I think the commitment is deep from the White House and is deep in Congress and is ongoing," said Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio. Cincinnati.com
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Management & Leadership

Leadership tips from the Super Bowl coachesJim and John Harbaugh aren't the "screaming field generals" once ubiquitous in football, writes Dov Seidman. Instead, the brothers represent the modern coach who listens to players rather than yelling at them, and aims not for absolute and unquestioned authority, but rather for softer and more collaborative forms of power. "[O]ur world has transformed. And football provides us a great metaphor for how our leadership needs to change with it," Seidman writes. Time.com
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International

China to export reactor design this year, official saysChina's CAP1400 reactor will be ready for export this year, according to a State Nuclear Power Technology official. The reactor design is based on Westinghouse Electric's AP1000 reactor. "The technology is under evaluation by the National Energy Bureau, and a demonstration project can be built by the end of 2013 at the earliest," said State Nuclear Power President Gu Jun. China Daily (Beijing)
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Rising costs prompt Centrica to opt out of U.K. reactor projectCentrica withdrew its participation in a reactor construction project in the U.K. with Electricite de France, citing rising costs and other factors. Centrica had an option to secure a 20% interest in four planned reactors in the U.K. "These factors, in particular the lengthening time frame for a return on the capital invested, have led to conclude participation is not right for Centrica," said Sam Laidlaw, CEO of Centrica. Bloomberg Businessweek
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